How To Write Image Alt Text

How to Write Image Alt Text: Best Practices and Tips

Image alt text is a vital element of web accessibility and SEO optimization. Alt text or alternative text refers to the text description that appears in place of an image when it doesn’t load or cannot be displayed on a webpage. The primary function of alt text is to describe the content and function of the image, making it accessible to people with visual impairments who use assistive technologies such as screen readers. Alt text also helps search engines understand the context and relevance of an image, which can improve your website’s ranking in the search results.

Here are some best practices and tips on how to write image alt text:

1. Be descriptive and concise: Alt text should provide a clear and concise description of the image’s content and purpose. Use specific words that describe the subject matter, size, color, and other relevant details. Avoid using generic phrases such as “image” or “picture” as they don’t provide any useful information.

2. Keep it under 125 characters: Screen readers typically read out the first 125 characters of alt text, so keep it short and to the point. If you need to provide additional information, you can use the image’s caption or a longer description on the page.

3. Use relevant keywords: Alt text is an essential SEO element, so make sure to include relevant keywords that describe the image’s content and context. However, avoid stuffing the alt text with too many keywords, as this can be seen as spammy and result in penalization from search engines.

4. Don’t use “image of…” or “picture of…”: Avoid using “image of” or “picture of” in your alt text as this is already implied by the fact that it’s an image. Instead, focus on describing the content and context of the image.

5. Use alt text for all images: It’s essential to use alt text for all images, including decorative and background images. For decorative images that don’t add any value to the content, use empty alt text (“alt=””) to indicate that it’s a decorative image.

In conclusion, writing image alt text is a simple yet critical aspect of web accessibility and SEO optimization. By following these best practices and tips, you can ensure that your website’s images are accessible, informative, and optimized for search engines. Remember to be descriptive, concise, and relevant in your alt text and provide context and content information that makes sense even without the image.